Bi-fold hardware for foldable doors



Nov. 15, 1966 R. R. STEIN ETAL BI-FOLD HARDWARE FOR FOLDABLE DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OCb. 18, 1965 zz; ATTO R N EY NOV. 15, 1965 R. R, STElN ET AL 3,285,324

BI-FOLD HARDWARE FOR FOLDABLE DOORS Filed OOC. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent O ISI-FOLD HARDWARE FOR FOLDABLE DOORS Robert R. Stein, Mamaroneck, and Stanley H. Coe,

Sloatsburg, N.Y., assignors to Grant Pulley and Hardware Corporation, West Nyack, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,923 6 Claims. (Cl. M60-206) This invention relates to bi-fold hardware for a foldable accordion-like door made up of a pair of hinged door panels designed to close a closet, a passageway between rooms, a window or other like opening or which door may be employed in furniture, built-ins or wherever else a door-like barrier is desired. Upon opening a door as contemplated herein, the panels thereof fold against each other and against one side of the door jamb.

The prior art has struggled vainly many years with the fabrication and installation dilemmas of multi-panel sets of doors and hardware therefor, wherein respective door and hardware sets are prepared specifically for a right-hand door installation and a left-hand door installation. Some of the major disadvantages of right-'hand and left-hand door and hardware sets are cost, time-consuming fabrication and installation and space-taking inventory to the manufacturer and to the various segments of the building industry.

It is one principal object of this invention to provide bi-fold hardware for foldable doors wherein the door panels and hardware of the invention as contemplated herein are structurally and designwise standardized to be equally applicable for both Iightahand and left-hand door installations, thereby eliminating right-hand and left-hand stock inventories.

It is another principal object of the invention to provide dual-handed hardware whereby the same hardware is applicable for rightand left-handed door installations. Doors in accordance with the instant invention may be closed from any point on the door and, likewise, opened from any point on the door when opening s-ame from the inside side of the door. When a door is opened from its outer side, a knob secured at installation, permits initial opening of the door after which Ifull door opening may be achieved from any point on the door panels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide bi-fold hardware wherein the top pivot and lead-gui-de assemblies are identical and both fully adjustable snap-in units and wherein door panels are fabricated to accept either the pivot or lead-guide top assembly in predrilled panel holes.

It is a yfurther object of the invention to eliminate the dilemmas heretofore accompanying foldable door installations such as binding, chattering, jamming and the requirement olf preselection of exact location of door pulls.

It is a further object of the invention to improve upon the m-anufacture of prefabricated foldable doors whereby doors made in accordance with the invention move more quickly through factory fabrication and assembly because door stock and hardware therefor are interchangeable for right-hand and left-hand door installations.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the elements constituting the invention in perspective;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing fragmentary portions of an assembled foldable door employing hardware in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3' of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FlG. 3.

3,285,324 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 ICC A pair of foldable door panels 10, 11 of suitable material constitute a foldable door 12. In accordance with .the invention, panels 10, 11 are structurally and designwise identical except for a knob 13. Knob 13 is secured on the outer side to whichever panel of the pair is selected as the lead panel of the assembled folding door 12. Such selection is made at the place .and time of installation by the person installing door 12. Door panels 10, 11 have adjacent coextending sides 14, 15 suitably hinged by means not shown herein for providing opening and closing foldable door movement. Panel-top edges 16, 17 are provided with a pair of preselectedly located holes 18a, b and 19a, b at the panel corners remote from the hinged door sides 14, 15.

A receptacle 20, preferably made of plastic, includes a base plate 21 and a pair of depending hollow sleeves 22a, b. The lower ends of sleeves 22a, b are open-ended. Sleeves 22a, b `are designed to tit into panel holes 18a, b so that plate 21 is secured flush against panel outer edge 16 by screws, nails or other suitable means 24. An identical and second receptacle 23 is similarly mounted to door panel 11. Receptacles 20, 23 may be secured to the panels 10, 11 at the place of installation or at the factory. Assembly at the factory permits shipment of a pair of identical door panels 10, 11 to the user with receptacles 20, 23 secured thereto. Panels 10, 11 may be hinged lat the factory or shipped without hinges which hardware may be selected .and attached to panels 10, 11 by the user.

A pair of identical pins 25, 26 are each provided with a flange 27 at one end and an adjacent undercut 28. FIG. 2 illustrates the undercuts 28. Flanged ends of pins 25, 26 are secured to respective ones of identical caps 29, 30. In the preferred embodiment, caps 29, 30 are made of nylon or other suitable plastic material. Pins 25, 26 are made of metal. FIG. 2 shows that eac'h cap 29, 30 has a bore provided with .an annular recess 31 and an annular lip 32. When a c-ap is pressed to iit over the flanged end of pin, flange 27 snaplocks into cap recess 31 and cap lip 32 snaplocks into the upper portion of the pin undercut 28 thereby captivating a pin to a cap. The diameter of the lower endsI of pins 25, 26 are selected to lit interchangeably into any one of the bores of the receptacle sleeves without binding therebetween upon rotation of a pin during open and closing door movements.

The outer dome portion 33 of the pin-cap selected as the door lead and guide is maintained by spring bias for longitudinal slidable travel in a channel 34 of an overhead longitudinal track 35. The dome 33 of the pin-cap selected as the door pivot is maintained by its spring bias rotatably seated in a bracket 36.

Bracket 36 is a thin resilient member preferably stamped from metal and has spaced end plates 37 each carrying a threaded bolt 38. Bracket plates 37 are of suitable width to ride along the inner surfaces of inwardly turned-track ledges 39, 40 upon mounting bracket 36 in track 35. The bracket central section 41 is connected to bracket plates 37 by inclined webs 42. Bracket central portion 41 includes a circular opening 43 into which a pivot pin-cap is rotatably seated for pivoting door 12. The figures show that the plane of central section 41 is linearly offset below the plane of bracket end plates 37, 37. A bracket 36 is mounted endwise into track channel 34 for each foldable door 12. Plates 37, 37 ride along inner sides of track ledges 39, 40 whereas the wider and lower central section 41 is juxtaposed the outer sides of ledges 39, 40. Upon tightening of bolts 38, 38, bracket 36 is clamped tight to track 35. The foregoing may be assembled at the factory. Bolts 38, 38 are loosened at place of door installation to permit proper positioning ofY bracket 36 along track 35 after which bracket 36 is fixed in position by tightening bolts 38, 38.

The spring bias means herein consists of identical conical coil springs 44, 44 each mounted on a respective pin 25, 26. FIGS. 2 and 4 show that the large diameter end of each spring abuts against the adjacent receptacle base plate 21. The small diameter end of each spring is spring snapped into the lower portion of its pin undercut 28, whereby one end of each spring is anchored to its pin. 'Ihe illustrated conical spring allows the opposite ends thereof to collapse together substantially in a flat plane as springs are put under compression during attachment of foldable door 12 to track 35 and detachment therefrom.

Caps 29, I30 have anges 45 from which cap domes 33 extend upright. Spring bias is always present during normal door use. Hence the cap dome 33 of the lead-guide pin is always in slidable engagement under its spring bias as it extends into the track channel 34. Similarly, the cap dome 33 of the pivot pin is always in rotatable seated relationship under its spring bias in bracket opening 43. The cap flanges 45, 45 act .as limit stops. For example, flange 45 of the lead-guide cap slides along the outer sides of track ledges 39, 40 between which its dome 33 extends upwardly into track channel 34. On the other hand, the cap flange 45 of the pivot pin bears rotatably against the bracket surface surrounding opening 43 into which the cap dome 33 extends.

The bottom edges 46, 47 of door panels 10, 11 are provided with single drilled holes 48 near the corners thereof. If the door is factory assembled, whereby the hinged sides 14, are factory determined, panel holes 18a, b, 19a, b and 48 are drilled along panel edges adjacent panel corners remote from sides 14, 15.

A single sleeve receptacle 49 is secured to -a bottom hole 48 at the pivot side of door 12 to hold a bottom door pivot pin 50. The bottom receptacle sleeve bore is threaded to receive threaded pin 50 which includes a self-locking detent 51 (FIG. 2). A nylon collar is secured to the lower end of pin 50 by peening collar 52 to pin 50. A pivot floor bracket 53 is secured to the floor by screws or other means 24. Bracket 53 has a circular pivot opening 54 into which the collar dome 55 extends freely for pivotal rotation. Collar flange 56 bears slidably against the bracket surface surrounding opening 54 under the weight of door 12. Bracket sides 57 raise bracket 53 to provide clearance for collar dome 55 to extend through and below bracket opening 54. The preselected amount of advance of threaded pin 50 into the sleeve of bottom receptacle 49 determines the height of door 12 with respect to track 35. When pin 50 is suitably located in its receptacle 49, it automatically selflocks to such set position by its detent 51. The sides of collar ange are hexagonal to receive a wrench to adjust the depth of pin 50 into its receptacle sleeve.

Holes 18a, b; 19a, b; and 48 may be drilled at the factory or at the place of door installation. It is preferable to have holes 18a, b and 19a, b drilled at the factory and receptacles 20, 23 mounted therein. Whether door 12 is left-handed or right-handed, a door installation uses both receptacles 20, 23, one to hold the top lead-guide pin assembly and the other for the top pivot pin assembly.

To install a door, the lead-guide and pivot-top assemblies are inserted in their respective receptacles. Door y12 is lifted and tilted to locate the lead-guide pin in track 35 and the pivote pin in bracket 36. This action depresses the upper pin assemblies against their springs 44 to permit lower pin collar 52 to pass over its bracket 53 until collar 52 is aligned with opening 54 whereby the door is lowered so that its weight rests through pin-collar bearing 50, 56 on bracket 53. To remove door 12, the door is lifted and tilted which compresses springs 44 until collar 52 lifts out of opening S4 and clears bracket 53. The door is then lowered until the upper pin-caps 29, 30

drop out from bracket 36 and track 35, as the case may be.

The lower ends of receptacle sleeves 22a, b which sleeves are open-ended and door holes 18a, b and 19a, b are made sufficiently long to accommodate downward travel of the top leadguide and pivot pin assemblies extending therein. Upon installation of door 12, the lower ends of top leadguide and pivot pin assemblies are inserted into selected top receptacle sleeves by the installer. Door 12 is lifted and tilted, as previously noted, to locate the top assemblies respectively in track channel 34 and bracket seat 43 therefor against spring bias 44.

. As one basic advantage of the invention, all door panels 10, 11, receptacles 20, 23, and lead-guide and pivot top assemblies are -structurally and designwise identical. This permits assembly of a spring and cap on a pin 25, 26 at the factory as a snap-locked single unit, whereby such assemblies are shipped ready for installation at the place of usage without requiring door installation by a skilled door hanger. It is understood that the same top assembly may serve as a lead-guide or pivot. It also permits doors to be shipped from the factory made of identical panels regardless of whether the door is ultimately used or hanged as a right-hand or left-hand door. As noted previously, door panels may be hinged at the factory prior to shipment or shipped as separate panels and hinged by the door installer.

For installation, track 35 including the pivot hardware is mounted to the door ja-mb and header and door 12. If receptacle holes 18, 19 and 48 are not predrilled at the factory, they are drilled by the installer who then mounts the door receptacles 20, 23 and 49 to panels 10, 11. The top assembly pins are then inserted in place and the door is mounted to track 35. If an adjustment is required, bottom pivot assembly 50, 55 is threadedly raised or lowered as desired.

The gures illustrate door panel 11 as the lead panel. Accordingly, knob 13 i-s secured to the outer side of panel 11 near its lead edge and pin 26 including itsspring and cap serve as the top lead-guide assembly. Pin 25 and its attached spring and cap serve as the top pivot assembly. It follows then that the bottom pivot assembly will be vertically aligned with the top pivot assembly adjacent the left door jamb. To open a closed door 12 from the outer side of the door, knob 13 is required to pull open the door panels at least to a partially folded status, after which a slight pressure anywhere on panel 11 allows one to pivot the panels so as to fold same against each other to fully open the door. A knob is not required on the inner side of foldable door since a slight pressure on either panel 10, 11 to pivot same about the axis of pins 25, 50 will pivotally open door 12. When door 12 is in open status, a push or pull on either panel in the direction to pivot same counterclockwise (FIG. l) about pins 25, 50 will close foldable door 12. Thus, one need not resort to knob 13 except for convenience.

It is preferable that the top-pin assembly -selected as the pivot engage the receptacle hole 18b or 19b, as the case Imay be, furthest from the adjacent panel side. It will be understood that bottom pivot holes 48, if drilled at the factory, are aligned with 18b and 1911. With respect to the lead-guide top assembly, it is preferable that it engage the receptacle hole, such as 18a or 19a, nearest the panel edge to provide a door swing greater than upon opening door 12. Where an adjacent wall or other obstruction presents itself, so that opening of a foldable through a swing of greater than 90 causes such door to abut against the adjacent obstruction, the installer may put the lead-guide top pin assembly in the hole, such as 1911, furthest from the door edge to limit a door opening swing to 90.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for operably mounting interconnected foldable and consimilar door panels to open and close along a longitudinal door track comprising, two pin-retaining means along an outer edge of each door panel juxtaposed the door track, rst and second pin members each operatively seated in a selected one of said two pinretaining means along said outer edge of respective ones of said door panels, biased means for operatively extending said pin members into the region of said door track, said rst pin member engaging said track for slidable movement therealong, and means secured to said track for pivotally seating said second pin member, said first pin member serving as a lead guide for opening and closing said foldable door and said second pin member serving as a foldable door pivot, the location of said two pin-retaining means of each door panel being similarly positioned along said outer edge of the respective door panels for enabling said foldable door to swing open more than 90 degrees when said lead guide functioning pin member and said pivot functioning pin member are seated in complementary ones of the pin-retaining means of the respective door panels.

2. An apparatus as dened in claim 1 wherein said pivot functioning pin member being seated in the pinretaining means closest to the interconnected and coextending edges of a pair of foldable door panels.

3. An apparatus `as defined in claim 1 wherein said foldable door panels being restrained against opening more than 90 degrees when said lead guide functioning pin member and said pivot functioning pin member are seated in correspondingly like ones of the pin-retaining means of the respective door panels.

4. A11 apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said two pin-retaining means of the respective door panels being operatively receptive to seat either one of said rst and second pin members for selectively rendering one panel a pivot functioning door panel, and the other a lead guide functioning door panel.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said rst and second pin members being structurally similar, and said two pin-retaining means for the respective door panels being structurally similar.

6. Apparatus as dened in claim 1 wherein said pivotally seating means secured to said track comprising a unitary clamp structure having a pair of spaced apart clamp members interconnected by a web member spacially off-set with respect to said pair of clamp members, said pair of clamp members co-acting to clamp along a common surface of said track and -said web cooperating therewith to clamp along a second track surface, and means co-acting with said track and said unitary clamp structure for securing said unitary structure in fixed position to said track.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,860,701 11/1958 Wood et al 160-206 3,054,447 9/ 1962 Brydolf 160-199 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR OPERABLY MOUNTING INTERCONNECTED FOLDABLE AND CONSIMILAR DOOR PANELS TO OPEN AND CLOSE ALONG A LONGITUDINAL DOOR TRACK COMPRISING, TWO PIN-RETAINING MEANS ALONG AN OUTER EDGE OF EACH DOOR PANEL JUXTAPOSED THE DOOR TRACK, FIRST AND SECOND PIN MEMBERS EACH OPERATIVELY SEATED IN A SELECTED ONE OF SAID TWO PINRETAINING MEANS ALONG SAID OUTER EDGE OF RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID POOR PANELS, BIASED MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY EXTENDING SAID PIN MEMBERS INTO THE REGION OF SAID DOOR TRACK, SAID FIRST PIN MEMBER ENGAGING SAID TRACK FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT THEREALONG, AND MEANS SECURED TO SAID TRACK FOR PIVOTALLY SEATING SAID SECOND PIN MEMBER, SAID FIRST PIN MEMBER SERVING AS A LEAD GUIDE FOR OPENING AND 